Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween [Hardcover]

 

 

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I'll start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Batman and have read just about every decent Batman graphic novel and certainly all of the best. I've read Batman: Year One, Dark Knight Returns, Arkham Asylum, The Killing Joke, Hush, you name it. I've seen every Batman film, and television episode and have owned several Batman related products ranging from clothes to toys to mugs to DVDs. I know my Batman and when he's good or not, so if I say I'm a Batman fan you will believe me.
The Long Halloween may be the most densely built story that Batman has ever been featured in. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have made the best Batman graphic novel since Dark Knight Returns and I think in many regards it's better. Unlike Dark Knight Returns, this story encompasses every aspect of Batman and his supporting characters. We get to see Batman deal with every kind of situation that he would deal with in one book.
Something that sets this story apart from most Batman graphic novels is that it is, in the end; a mystery. After to put aside all the action and drama, you're still left with the characters trying to solve a mystery.
Although they never address it, this seems to be set in what may be considered 'Year Two' of Batman's career or maybe 'Year Three', so it's in between the times when Batman's getting started in Gotham City and when he's become jaded and fully experienced. Dick Grayson is introduced in the book's sequel, so it's definitely a younger Bruce Wayne, Christian Bale's Batman, it's Captain Gordon not commissioner, and Harvey Dent is the District Attorney.
We begin with the wedding of the nephew of Carmine 'The Roman' Falcone, afterward Batman enters the Roman's penthouse apartment to get to his safe, only to find Catwoman there already. The Roman's men enter and a bounty is put on both of their heads. The entire first chapter really just deals with the Roman and his organization, we see him scaring the bank chairman into keeping Falcone's money out of the bank. We see Batman burn down a stockpile of Falcone's cash (a breathtaking image that was used in Nolan's Dark Knight only Joker burnt the cash and for completely different reasons) and we see the alliance between Batman, Gordon and Dent forged to bring down the Roman. The first chapter ends with the Roman's nephew killed and a .22 gun is left at the scene and a jack o'lantern to commemorate Halloween. And that's the story; a serial killer starts killing people connected to Falcone's syndicate on major holidays. And the structure of the book is what's so cool. Each issue we see Batman trying to find the identity of this Holiday killer while at the same time he has to deal with each member of his Rogue's gallery. Everyone aside from Croc, Black Mask, Mr. Freeze, Ra's Al Ghul and Harley Quinn are in this book. The best face-off in the story of course is Batman VS Joker on New Year's, on a plane over the city. To go into further detail would spoil the story, but by the end, Batman is changed into a different person as are each character.
If the story's not your cup of tea, then the art certainly will be. Tim sale is a master of his craft, among the best 2 artists in the medium I'd say (the other being Alex Ross). The wonderful thing about the art is that while being centered in reality, it's very abstract at the same time. Batman looks right, but no human is that muscular. Joker looks perfect, but by scale his teeth would be 6 inches long. And no matter how weird the art may seem it's always Batman in the end.
In the end you're left with a classic Batman story with perhaps the best art, and a smorgasbord of Batman villains and a very powerful villain origin and a genuine shock when Holiday is revealed.
The Absolute Edition is the best buy I've made when it comes to Comic books, unlike say Watchmen, we get input from both the artist and the writer. A nice interview and a cover commentary is very insightful, and the usual galleries and sketches are great. But the feature book is what it's all about.
Any Batman fan who doesn't own this book, needs to rush out and buy it!

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